Electrics, heating and windows
Surveyors do not test the electrics, do not fire the boiler and do not open a window more than once. Everything on this page needs its own inspection — and the gap between "looks dated" and "needs replacing" is usually several thousand pounds.
An EICR is not a rewire quote
C1 means danger present. C2 means potentially dangerous and needing remedial work — which is often a new consumer unit and some bonding rather than new cable throughout. C3 means improvement recommended and is not a fault at all; an installation with only C3 items is satisfactory. Plenty of buyers have tried to renegotiate thousands over a report that said nothing was wrong.
Old-looking is not the same as unsafe
Black rubber-insulated cable, lead-sheathed cable, round-pin sockets and a wooden fuse board mean a pre-1965 installation where the insulation itself has degraded — that is a genuine rewire. PVC twin-and-earth in good condition behind an old plastic board is a 1970s to 1990s installation that usually needs a modern consumer unit and testing, not £6,000 of cable and plaster.
Ask for the making good in writing
Rewiring means chasing every wall and lifting floors, and electricians almost never include the plastering, let alone the decorating. On a three-bed house that is £1,800 to £5,000 of plastering and potentially the same again in decoration. Get the standard the walls will be left in written into the quote before you accept it.
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Every guide on this topic
External Door and Threshold Issues: What Surveys Flag and What They Cost
Sticking doors, worn thresholds and draughty frames are common survey notes — here's what they actually mean and what fixing them costs.
Read the guide →- Single Glazing in a Survey: Does It Actually Matter?
Single glazing gets flagged on almost every older survey — but is it a real problem, or just a note? Here's how to weigh it up properly.
- Rotten Window Frames: Repair or Replace? A Cost Guide
A survey flags rotten window frames — but does that mean full replacement, or can they be repaired? Here's how to tell, and realistic costs either way.
- Boiler and Gas Safety Survey Findings: What to Check Before You Offer
A working boiler at a viewing doesn't tell you much about its age, efficiency or safety. Here's what to check on heating and gas safety before you offer.
- Old Wiring Types: Rewire Needed or Just Old-Looking?
Not all old-looking wiring needs replacing immediately. Here's how to identify what type of wiring a property actually has, and what it means for cost and safety.
- EICR Explained: What an Electrical Report Means for Your Purchase
An EICR uses codes (C1, C2, C3, FI) that sound cryptic but tell you exactly how urgent an electrical issue is. Here's how to read one before you buy.
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